Abstract: The invention is of an improved hot stamp machine for custom imprinting plastic tag blanks with selectable indicia. The machine, because of its mechanical configuration, facilitates stamping operations which are virtually devoid of any risk of injury to the user. The hot stamp machine of the present invention is configured such that a plastic tag blank is inserted through a small aperture (not substantially larger than is necessary to admit the plastic tag blank there through), and with the tag blank fully in position for stamping, the stamping operation automatically occurs within the machine, with the dangerous stamping mechanism being safely out of reach of the user.